The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) directors recently ratified the rootstock selections for the planned rootstock field trials and discussed the organization’s involvement in future research, CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler reported.
The board ratified 10 rootstock selections for the new field trials, overseen by CRDF’s Select Committee on Plant Improvement.
According to Dantzler, the field trials will evaluate the newest and most promising rootstocks from the University of Florida (UF) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Seven USDA rootstocks were selected for the trials: US-1282, US-1283, US-1516, US-1281, US-1279, US-1284 and US-SS2. In addition, three rootstocks from UF were selected: Blue 1, UFR-5 and Orange 14.
Last year, the committee chose Hamlin, Vernia and Valencia oranges as the tree varieties for the rootstock trials. The trials will be conducted in each citrus-growing region throughout the state.
“This is something we started a year ago where we are seeking the input of growers on how we could better equip our plant breeders to be as successful as possible. We believe that breeding is the long-term way out of this (HLB),” Dantzler says. “The homerun we’ve all been looking for might be out there, we just have to test it and find out.”
In the midst of discussing the new round of CRDF rootstock trials, the need for a scion research trial was brought to the board’s attention.
“There are many growers who believe that …..
Read more about CRDF Selects Rootstocks for Trials on the Citrus Industry website.